Tag: literacy

Two Edinburgh authors feature in 2021 Bookbug Picture Book Prize

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has today announced the shortlist for the 2021 Bookbug Picture Book Prize. Now in its fifth year, the shortlist includes Morag Hood, Ross Collins and Zoë Ingram.

The award was established to celebrate the most popular picture books by Scottish authors and illustrators and to encourage reading for pleasure.

The winner is chosen by thousands of children across the country who can cast their votes online either at school with their teacher or at home with their families, via the Scottish Book Trust website.

THE BOOKBUG PICTURE BOOK PRIZE 2021 SHORTLIST IS:

  • Brenda is a Sheep by Morag Hood (Two Hoots)
  • This is a Dog by Ross Collins (Nosy Crow)
  • My First Book of Birds illustrated by Zoë Ingram (Walker Books)

Morag Hood and Zoë Ingram are both from Edinburgh, while Ross Collins is from Glasgow.

The 2021 shortlist features Brenda who believes she is a sheep but is different from her fluffy friends; a dog that steals the show and plans to keep it that way, and an illustrated spotter’s guide that is an ideal introduction to garden birds.

Families can watch the books being read aloud here.

The winner of the Bookbug Picture Book Prize will be announced in an exclusive video to all registered groups on Thursday 4 March 2021 (World Book Day).

The winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy and £2,000 while shortlisted authors and illustrators receive £500 per book.

62,000 pupils across Scotland will receive a free copy of each of the three books on the shortlist, which are given to every Primary 1 child during Book Week Scotland (16 November – 22 November), in the Bookbug P1 Family Bag.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “It’s always a delight to see familiar faces on the Bookbug Picture Book Prize, which was established to celebrate the work of great authors and illustrators in Scotland.

“We hope families across the country will enjoy reading these books together, and vote for the one they enjoy most.”

Alan Bett, Literature Officer at Creative Scotland, said: “The Bookbug Picture Book Prize promotes reading for enjoyment and engages young readers, not only through a fantastic shortlist of titles, but also by empowering them with the decision to choose the winner. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators.”

The deadline for voting is Friday 5 February at 5pm.

Bookbug Hero Award searches for Early Years champion

Scottish Book Trust has announced that nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award 2021 are now open.

Run in association with Walker Books, the award aims to honour someone working with Bookbug who has used the programme to make a real difference to the lives of the young children, families and communities they work with.

Scottish Book Trust is asking people across the country to nominate a librarian, early years worker, volunteer, health visitor, or anyone who uses Bookbug in their work. The winner will receive a special trophy and a bundle of picture books worth £500 from Walker Books.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “It’s fitting to open nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award on International Literacy Day, as the Bookbug programme aims to support speech and language development through songs and rhymes.

“There are many fantastic Bookbug practitioners working across Scotland inspiring the next generation of readers and writers. Our thanks to Walkers Books for supporting the prize and allowing us to celebrate their work.”

Myra Mains, winner of the Bookbug Hero Award 2020, said: “I was overwhelmed but absolutely delighted to receive the very first Bookbug Hero Award.

“I have loved being involved with the Bookbug programme since it started in 2010. Sharing stories, songs and rhymes is fun but Bookbug is so much more than fun and having the opportunity to help share the many benefits to families is so rewarding in itself!

Bookbug is definitely a team effort and it’s an absolute joy to be part of Bookbug’s extended family!”

Jane Winterbotham, Publishing Director at Walker Books said: “We really appreciate all that Bookbug and the heroes who run the programmes do for communities and we are really pleased that we can continue to show our appreciation and support of that work by sponsoring the award.

“We love that it shines a light on those practitioners who champion reading, and work tirelessly to change lives through stories and can’t wait to hear more about the next winner!”

Nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award can be made online via Scottish Book Trust’s website. 

The closing date for nominations is Friday 30 October 2020.

Sharp rise in reading ability in Scotland’s schools

PERFORMANCES IMPROVE & ATTAINMENT GAP CLOSING

Reading levels among Scotland’s children have risen sharply in the last three years and the attainment gap is closing, according to an international survey.

Data from the Programme for International Student Assessment 2018 (PISA) shows that reading levels are now above the average, with just five Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, out of 36, higher than Scotland.

PISA data also shows that social background is now less of factor in performance, corroborating wider evidence that the attainment gap is closing.

Performance in maths and science was similar to Scotland’s performance in 2015 at the OECD average.

Other findings show that compared to the OECD average:

  • a higher proportion of Scotland’s pupils felt inspired by their teachers’ enthusiasm
  • pupils were more likely to feel that their teachers enjoyed teaching and liked teaching their class
  • teachers are more likely to give feedback to students to improve their performance, while students were more likely to say this happened in every or many lessons

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “These are very encouraging results and the latest sign that our education reforms are working. Scottish schools are improving and this international study confirms that.

“Reading underpins all learning, and the sharp rise in performance is good news.

“The improvement has been driven by great teachers and well-supported pupils, but also our unrelenting focus on improving literacy through the Scottish Attainment Challenge and Pupil Equity Fund. Those efforts are now paying dividends, with only five countries scoring higher than Scotland at reading.

“The figures on social background also confirm that we are closing the gap between pupils from the richest and poorest backgrounds.

“Maths and science scores are stable at the OECD average, so we need to see the kind of improvement that we now see in literacy in these areas too. That is the challenge.

“An inspection of maths and numeracy published by Education Scotland shows what is working and how we can improve. It will help as we move on the next phase of driving up standards in Scotland’s schools.

“And, in science, good progress has been made with delivery of our five-year STEM strategy, with the roll-out of career-long professional learning grants and new online resources for teachers. The impact of it will only just be beginning to be felt on the ground and we will continue to push for the improvements that we know can be made.

“There is plenty of work still to do to improve Scottish education but today’s report should give people a strong sense that we are on the right track, making substantial progress and seeing results where it counts – in the classroom.”

 

Book Week Scotland programme launched

Scottish Book Trust has launched Book Week Scotland’s 2019 programme with comic book artist Frank Quitely of DC Comics All Star Superman and Batman and Robin fame.

Book Week Scotland, the country’s biggest celebration of reading and writing, returns for its eight year with hundreds of events taking place all over Scotland from intimate community gatherings to flagship events with well-loved authors. Continue reading Book Week Scotland programme launched

First Minister launches new app for teen readers

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joined Portobello High School students from S1-S3 yesterday to launch a new app, Bookzilla, at Portobello Library.

Developed by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, and digital agency Dubit, Bookzilla is aimed at early secondary school students in Scotland. The app encourages pupils to read for pleasure, whether they are already regular readers or just embarking on their reading journey. Continue reading First Minister launches new app for teen readers

Three Edinburgh pupils win National Reading Awards

The winners of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge 2018-19 have been announced at an event in Glasgow. Nineteen schools, one library and one book club were honoured at the celebration ceremony, where prizes were awarded by Ross MacKenzie, author of The Elsewhere Emporium (Floris). Continue reading Three Edinburgh pupils win National Reading Awards

Bear with Me: Forthview parents produce fabulous new book

Forthview Primary School parents proudly unveiled their latest story ‘Bear with Me’ at a launch at the City Chambers on Wednesday. Continue reading Bear with Me: Forthview parents produce fabulous new book